Zimbabwe nurses embrace telemedicine application

By Staff reporter | 17 Jul 2019 at 18:42hrs
MyCpdZw
The mobile application recently launched by The Zimbabwe Telemedicine Network has been warmly received by nurses from various parts of Zimbabwe who say it is a tool they had been long waiting for. A quick check on the website revealed that more than 500users have already signed up for the product.

The mobile application provides portable digitized learning content, clinical decision support tools and other specialized features such as a points management and submission system as well as online renewal of practising certificates.

The digitization of these services implies that nurses using this application will no longer be required to physically present themselves to Nurses Council Offices to renew practising certificates, a process which has been a challenge for many in various parts of the country.

The network has embarked on provincial sensitisation meetings in partnership with the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives and we caught up with the Bulawayo meeting which was well attended by senior nurses which were hosted by Mpilo Central Hospital. Nurses from UBH, Mater Dei and Council also attended.

Sister Moreblessing Mapfumo a registered midwife said they are excited about the new mobile application as it will help them access more information than they used to and conveniently too.

"MyCpdZw has come at the right time. I can now access tutorials on the platform. The CPD activities are short and precise and the questions develop our understanding. We want to see more activities on the app" she said.

The Head of IoT and Digital Health for the network Dr Yvet Turugari who was conducting the training explained that they will be making efforts to reach all nurses in the country to teach on how to maximize the use of the platform.

"Our platform is quite adaptive and we are growing it. Even those in remote locations will be able to use this app as it has features functional in offline mode as well. So after these sensitisations, we will have teams going to some of these remote locations to teach health workers on the app. Some nurses are signing up but some others need help with the registration. Our vision is to develop more content so as to advance health education for health workers," she said.

In a telephone interview with the Nurses Council Chairperson from her Harare base, Dr Lilian Dodzo said they had adopted the platform because it fits it into their vision going forward.

"The Nursing Now initiative has declared 2020 as The Year of the Nurse. We are celebrating 200years afters the death of the mother of Nursing-Florence Nightingale's. We are therefore talking of empowerment of nurses, recognition of nurses and advancing nursing practice."

"MyCpdZw is one such tool that will complement our efforts. We listened to our membership, their cries about how difficult it was to renew their licenses and with this platform we are bringing access and convenience. We will continue to do more as we appreciate the work our nurses in Zimbabwe and those in the diaspora are doing" said Dr Dodzo

LATEST NEWS

PARTNER CONTENT

WhatsApp Newsletter

Follow us

Latest Headlines